Supply device of medicine used in automatic counting and packing system and supply method of medicine

ABSTRACT

A supply device of medicine used in an automatic counting and packing system according to the present invention comprises two tablet distribution conveyors, each of which is disposed on both sides in the transverse direction under tablet cassettes and has a conveyor belt which is rotated repeatedly by power and on the outer surface of which a plurality of partition plates stand upright in a state of being spaced apart from each other as distant as the width of a table cassette, a tablet supply means for feeding tablets, fed by the tablet distribution conveyors dose by dose which is mounted between the tablet distribution conveyors, to a hopper of a packing means, and powder removing means for removing tablet powder which are disposed under the tablet distribution conveyors and mounted beside the tablet supply means.  
     A supply method of medicine according to the present invention comprises a process of distributing portions, divided by partition plates, moving toward the center from the side, a process of tablets being supplied dose by dose to each corresponding distributing portion of each tablet distribution conveyor when the distributing portions come under a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed in the direction of width, and a process of a dose of tablets being supplied to a hopper of a packing means by two corresponding distributing portions, so that the packing means can pack tablets dose by dose.  
     Accordingly, the present invention allows a variety of tablets supplied from a plurality of tablet cassettes to be supplied to a packing means at a time, and tablet powder to be removed, thereby facilitating quick supply of distributed tablets and ensuring a sanitary use for a long time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply device of medicine usedin an automatic counting and packing system, which is designed todistribute a variety of tablets, supplied from tablet cassettes andsupply them to a packing means dose by dose, and to a supply method ofmedicine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a supplydevice of medicine used in an automatic counting and packing system anda supply method of medicine, which allows a variety of tablets, suppliedfrom a plurality of tablet cassettes, to be supplied to a packing meansat a time, thereby facilitating supply of distributed tablets.

[0002] In general, there are various kinds of medicines. Such medicinesshould be compounded for preparation per dose. There is also anautomatic counting and packing system designed for distributing andpacking medicines dose by dose.

[0003] The automatic counting and packing system is a machine fordispensing and packing tablets dose by dose by means of a packing means.The packing means feeds tablets, prepared dose by dose, to a packingsheet through a hopper immediately before the packing sheet, which isfolded continuously, comes into between a pair of heater knife members,and seals up the packing sheet with heat of the heater knife members byputting the packing sheet into between a pair of heater knife members.

[0004] A conventional supply device of medicine, as shown in FIG. 4, isused to supply tablets to a hopper that is a structural element of apacking means, and is so structured that a plurality of tablet cassettes101 containing different tablets are arranged close together, a hopper102 for gathering each tablet coming from the tablet cassettes 101 tothe central side of the width direction is disposed under the tabletcassettes 101, two tablet conveyors 103 for gathering a plurality oftablets guided by the hopper 102 to the central side are mounted at bothsides of the lower outlet of the hopper 102, and a supply conveyor 104for supplying tablets gathered by the tablet conveyors 103 to a hopperthat is one element of a packing means is mounted under between thetablet conveyors 103.

[0005] In the conventional supply device of medicine structured asabove, tablets contained in the tablet cassettes 101 drop down to theupper surface of the tablet conveyors 103 at a time, fed to the supplyconveyor 104 by the tablet conveyors 103, and finally fed to the hopperof the packing means dose by dose by the supply conveyor 104. Then, thepacking means packs tablets dose by dose.

[0006] However, the conventional supply device of medicine had adisadvantage in that since tablets contained in the tablet cassettes aregathered to the central side after being dropped down to the tabletconveyors at the same time and therefore it takes a little time to feedtablets, it is difficult to pack tablets quickly.

[0007] The conventional supply device of medicine has a furtherdisadvantage in that since much tablet powder remains clinging to thesurface of the tablet conveyors after a long-time use, the tabletconveyors are unsanitary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventionaldisadvantages described above. Therefore, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a supply device of medicine used in an automaticcounting and packing system and a supply method of medicine, whichallows a variety of tablets supplied from a plurality of tabletcassettes to be supplied to a packing means at a time, and tablet powderto be removed, thereby facilitating supply of distributed tablets andensuring a sanitary use for a long time.

[0009] To achieve the above-described object, a supply device ofmedicine used in an automatic counting and packing system according tothe present invention, which is designed to supply a plurality oftablets discharged from tablet cassettes dose by dose to a hopper as anelement of a packing means and to have the packing means pack thetablets dose by dose, comprises two tablet distribution conveyors, eachof which is disposed on both sides in the transverse direction undertablet cassettes and has a conveyor belt which is rotated repeatedly bypower and on the outer surface of which a plurality of partition platesstand upright in a state of being spaced apart from each other asdistant as the width of a table cassette, a tablet supply means forfeeding tablets, fed by the tablet distribution conveyors dose by dosewhich is mounted between the tablet distribution conveyors, to a hopperof a packing means, and powder removing means for removing tablet powderwhich are disposed under the tablet distribution conveyors and mountedbeside the tablet supply means.

[0010] A supply method of medicine according to the present inventioncomprises a process of distributing portions, divided by partitionplates, moving toward the center from the side, a process of tabletsbeing supplied dose by dose to each corresponding distributing portionof each tablet distribution conveyor when the distributing portions comeunder a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed in the direction ofwidth, a process of a dose of tablets being supplied to a hopper of apacking means by two corresponding distributing portions, and a processof tablets being distributed in sequence to the following distributingportions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing an automatic counting andpacking system to which a supply device of medicine according to thepresent invention applies;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of B section of FIG. 1;and

[0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective view of a conventional supplyof medicine used in an automatic counting and packing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the presentinvention will now be described.

[0016]FIG. 1 is an elevational view schematically showing an automaticcounting and packing system to which a supply device of medicineaccording to the present invention applies. The supply device ofmedicine is designed to supply a plurality of tablets, which aredischarged from a plurality of tablet cassettes 1 disposed in a densestate, to a packing means dose by dose, so that tablets will be packeddose by dose by the packing means.

[0017] The supply device of medicine is so structured that two tabletdistribution conveyors 2 are disposed under the tablet cassettes 1, atablet supply means is mounted between the two tablet distributionconveyors 2, and powder removing means are disposed under the tabletdistribution conveyors 2 and mounted beside the tablet supply means.

[0018] The two tablet distribution conveyors, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,include belts 2 b which is rotated repeatedly by power of a motor 2 aand on the outer surface of which a plurality of partition plates 2 cstand upright in a state of being spaced apart from each other asdistant as the width of a table cassette 1, and are disposed on bothsides in the transverse direction under the tablet cassettes 1 so as forthe belts 2 b to rotate to the transverse direction.

[0019] In particular, each tablet distribution conveyor 2, as shown inFIG. 3, has pin mounting portions 2 d formed on both upper sides of thebelt 2 b, and pins 2 e mounted at the end portion of the partitionplates 2 c, both ends of each pin being mounted at the pin mountingportions 2 d formed on the belt 2 b. A plurality of elastic members 2 fare installed at each pin 2 to elastically support both sides of eachpartition plate 2 c so that each partition plate can stand upright.

[0020] The tablet supply means, mounted between the two tabletdistribution conveyors 2, is designed to feeding tablets, fed by thetablet distribution conveyors dose by dose, to a packing means. Thetablet supply means is so structured that a tablet supporting plate 3for supporting tablets fed from the tablet distribution conveyors 2 ismounted apart under between the two tablet distribution conveyors 2,tablet feeding plates 4 push a plurality of tablets out of the tabletsupporting plate 3 to the packing means, and a tablet supply conveyor 2having the belt 5 a spaced at a equal distance move the tablet feedingplates 4 mounted on the belt 5 a.

[0021] The powder removing means are disposed under the tabletdistribution conveyors 2 and are mounted over the tablet supply means,that is, a tablet supply conveyor 5 and beside the tablet feeding plates4 in order to remove tablet powder.

[0022] The powder removing means are so constructed that alcohol spraynozzles 6 are disposed under the two tablet distribution conveyors 2,that is, apart from the lower outer surface of the belts 2 b, air spraynozzles 7 are disposed under the two tablet distribution conveyors 2,that is, apart from the lower outer surface of the belts 2 b, andmounted on one side of the tablet supply means, that is, the upper outerside of belts 5, and powder suction ports 8 suck tablet powder which isseparated from the belts 2 b of the tablet distribution conveyors 2 andthe belts 5 a of the tablet supply means by air pressure of the airspray nozzles 7.

[0023] It is obvious that the alcohol spray nozzles 6 and the air spraynozzles 7 are connected to a general compressor or blower, the alcoholspray nozzles 7 are connected to a unit for supplying alcohol, and thepowder suction ports 8 are connected to a vacuum generator.

[0024] Of course, the tablet cassettes 1, like conventional ones, can bearranged densely in a square shape in the transverse direction. However,in this embodiment of the present invention, one set of tablet cassettes1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, 1 f and 1 g and the other set of tabletcassettes 1 h, 1 k, 1 m, 1 n, 1 p, 1 q and 1 r are disposed separatelyin the transverse direction.

[0025] It is obvious that the tablet cassettes can be disposed in layersin the direction of height.

[0026] The packing means, like the conventional one, is designed to feedtablets, prepared dose by dose, to a packing sheet 12 through a hopper13 immediately before the packing sheet 12, which is foldedcontinuously, comes into between a pair of heater knife members 11, andto seal up the packing sheet 12 with heat of the heater knife members11.

[0027] The supply device of medicine used in an automatic counting andpacking system according to the present invention constructed as aboveworks as follows to supply tablets to the hopper 13 that is a structuralelement of the packing means.

[0028] After a prescription is inputted into a computer(notillustrated), the tablet cassettes 1 are controlled by the computer.When distributing portions divided by the partition plates 2 c of thetablet distribution conveyors 2 come under a plurality of the tabletcassettes 1 disposed in the direction of width, that is, the firsttablet cassettes 1 a and 1 h, the prescribed tablets are supplied to thedistributing portions.

[0029] When the distributing portions containing tablets supplied fromthe tablet cassettes 1 a and 1 h are moved and come under the nexttablet cassettes 1 b and 1 k, different tablets are supplied to thedistributing portions. When the distributing portions come under thefinal tablet cassettes 1 g and 1 r after passing through other cassettesin that manner, the final tablets prescribed are supplied to thedistributing portions.

[0030] Then, a dose of tablets are contained in two correspondingdistributing portions formed on two tablet distribution conveyors. Thetwo corresponding distributing portions continue moving and put a doseof tablets down on the table supporting plate 3. The tablets put on thetablet supporting plate 3 are supplied to the hopper 13 of the packingmeans by the belts 5 driven by the motor 5 b and the tablet feedingplates 4 which is interlocked with the belts.

[0031] Accordingly, tablets are packed dose by dose by the packingmeans.

[0032] Of course, according to a prescription, tablets are continuouslydistributed to a plurality of distribution portions that movecontinuously. Thus, a plurality of tablets contained in a pair ofcorresponding distributing portions is supplied at a time to the hopper13 of the packing means.

[0033] After the belts 2 b of the tablet of the tablet distributionconveyors 2 rotated by about half a turn, a plurality of tabletscontained in a pair of corresponding portions is supplied quickly.

[0034] On the other hand, when the outer surfaces of the belts 2 b ofthe tablet distribution conveyors 2 comes to the downside, tablet powderis easily separated from the belts 2 b by the alcohol spray nozzles 6and the air spray nozzles 7, and is sucked into the powder suction ports8 at the same time.

[0035] Tablet powder is also removed from the tablet supply means by theair spray nozzles 7 and the powder suction ports 8.

[0036] Another example of a supply method of medicine is explained here.Let's suppose that there are tablets a, b, c, d, and e, and that tabletsa, b and c are prescribed for being taken in the morning, tablets a, band d are prescribed for being taken in the afternoon, and tablets a, band e are prescribed for being taken in the evening.

[0037] In that case, when in the initial state the spaces betweenpartition plates on both upper end portions of the belts 2 a of thetablet distribution conveyors 2 go under the tablet cassettes containingthe tablets a, b and c, respectively, the tablets a, b and c only to betaken in the morning are dropped into the first spaces.

[0038] Then, when the next spaces go under the tablets cassettescontaining the tablets a, b and d, respectively, the tablets a, b and donly to be taken in the afternoon are dropped into the spaces.

[0039] Lastly, when the third spaces go under the tablets cassettescontaining the tablets a, b and e, respectively, the tablets a, b and eonly to be taken in the evening are dropped into the spaces.

[0040] Of course, the tablets dropped into the spaces are packed dose bydose as described above for delivery to a patient.

[0041] The above supply method of medicine according to the presentinvention makes it possible to continuously pack different tablets asprescribed to be taken in the morning, afternoon and evening,respectively. It is possible to print date and time of taking medicineon the packing sheet by means of a printer.

[0042] As discussed above, the supply device of medicine used in anautomatic counting and packing system is designed to supply a variety ofdifferent tablets, supplied from a plurality of tablet cassettes, to apacking means in the central position dose by dose at a time by means ofa pair of distributing portions. The supply device of medicine accordingto the present invention is also be able to continuously supply a doseof tablets to a pair of distribution portions, so that tablets can besupplied and packed quickly.

[0043] Further, the present invention is designed for tablet powder tobe removed by spraying and sucking air, thereby ensuring a sanitary useof an automatic counting and packing system for a long time.

What is claimed is:
 1. A supply device of medicine used in an automaticcounting and packing system according to the present invention, which isdesigned to supply a plurality of tablets discharged from tabletcassettes dose by dose to a hopper as an element of a packing means andto have the packing means pack the tablets dose by dose, comprising twotablet distribution conveyors, each of which is disposed on both sidesin the transverse direction under tablet cassettes and has a conveyorbelt which is rotated repeatedly by power and on the outer surface ofwhich a plurality of partition plates stand upright in a state of beingspaced apart from each other as distant as the width of a tablecassette, a tablet supply means for feeding tablets, fed by said twotablet distribution conveyors dose by dose which is mounted between saidtablet distribution conveyors, to a hopper of a packing means, andpowder removing means for removing tablet powder which are disposedunder said tablet distribution conveyors and mounted beside said tabletsupply means;
 2. A supply device of medicine used in an automaticcounting and packing system according to claim 1, wherein pin mountingportions are formed on both upper sides of the belt, pins are mounted atthe end portion of partition plates, both ends of each pin are mountedat pin mounting portions, and a plurality of elastic members areinstalled at each pin to elastically support both sides of eachpartition plate so that each partition plate can stand upright;
 3. Asupply device of medicine used in an automatic counting and packingsystem according to claim 1, wherein said tablet supply means comprisesa tablet supporting plate mounted apart under between said tabletdistribution conveyors, two tablet feeding plates for pushing aplurality of tablets out of said tablet supporting plate to a hopper ofa packing means, and a tablet supply conveyor having the belt 5 a spacedat equal distances and moving said tablet feeding plates mounted on thebelt
 5. 4. A supply device of medicine used in an automatic counting andpacking system according to claim 1, wherein a power removing meanscomprises an alcohol spray nozzle disposed under each tabletdistribution conveyor, an air spray nozzle disposed under each tabletdistribution conveyor and mounted by one side of the table supply means,and a powder suction port for sucking tablet powder which is separatedfrom each tablet distribution conveyor and said tablet supply means byair pressure of said air spray nozzle; and
 5. A supply method ofmedicine to be carried out by a supply device of medicine used in anaccounting and packing system according to the present inventioncomprising a process of distributing portions, divided by said partitionplates, moving toward the center from the side, a process of tabletsbeing supplied dose by dose to each corresponding distributing portionof each tablet distribution conveyor when said distributing portionscome under a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed in the direction ofwidth, a process of a dose of tablets being supplied to said hopper ofsaid packing means by two corresponding distributing portions, and aprocess of tablets being distributed in sequence to the followingdistributing portions.